Medellin Metro Public Transit System Continues to Grow, Improve

Medellin’s world-famous “Metro” transit system – featuring electric railcars, electric roadway trams, electric aerial tramways carrying passengers up steep mountainsides, natural-gas-powered bus rapid transit (BRT) systems and free bicycles adjacent to Metro stations – mobilized 258 million passengers in 2015, up 9.8% year-on-year.

According to a March 18 annual report from the agency, its electric railcar fleet has grown to 58 units, with 20 more to be added gradually over 28 months, starting in December 2016.

Passengers mobilized daily on the Metro system now top an average of 811,000, according to the agency.

The agency also has bolstered its network for recharging the “Civica” transit-access smart-card to 600 outlets, while hiking its reversible turnstile access points at Metro stations to 213, from 170 previously.

On its “Line 1” BRT system, Metro has now grown its articulated bus fleet number to 30 units, up from 25 at year-end 2015, according to the agency.